Smartphones are very important in everyone's life, taking us on trips, documenting our lives, and finding new places to visit - all of these behaviors raise the risk of damaging your phone. For this reason, we have listed ten common behaviors that damage phones. If you engage in any of these behaviors, stop immediately.
1. Avoid downloading apps from unofficial sources or third-party app stores
When you can't find an app on the Play Store or App Store, exploring other sources is possible. However, downloading apps from these unofficial sources or third-party app stores may put your device at risk of malware. Malicious apps can be infected with viruses and spyware, stealing personal information, passwords and even banking information. They can also lead to cybercriminals accessing the device's camera and microphone. In contrast, downloading apps from official stores is safer because they have a screening process that prevents malicious apps from appearing on the list.
2. Keep your phone from overheating while charging
Allowing your phone to overheat while charging may permanently damage the battery. Make sure that your phone is not exposed to excessive temperatures to prevent your device from overheating. To avoid overheating your device, remove any cases or accessories before charging to ensure that excess heat does not build up inside your device. When charging your phone, do so in a cool, moisture-free environment below 32°C (90°F).
3. Ignore update notifications
You may not like the notifications that tell you there are new software updates for your phone or specific applications. However, these are necessary updates that help keep your device running smoothly and safely. Typically, these updates not only focus on improving the user experience, but they also often contain security patches to address newly discovered vulnerabilities. By ignoring them, your phone is effectively exposed to malware attacks. Therefore, don't block notifications and download and install updates as soon as possible.
4. Use public Wi-Fi
As convenient as it is to use public Wi-Fi to access the Internet, there are some risks involved. Public Wi-Fi hotspots are known to be insecure as they are usually unencrypted or have weak security measures. If you connect to these networks, it is easy for malicious actors to steal personal information such as passwords and banking information. In addition, your phone can be infected with malware that causes apps to crash frequently and for no apparent reason, overheating and shortened battery life.
5. Using the wrong charger
You may think that all chargers are the same and as long as the cable connector fits your phone, it will work fine. While it can charge your phone, the charging efficiency may not be as good as the charger that came with the device. What's more, incompatible chargers can shorten battery life and even damage your phone's charging port. Not all chargers provide the same amount of power, and some are of better quality than others. However, this does not mean that you have to use the original charger for your device. You can buy chargers from well-known brands and check that they are safe to use. Just make sure they are certified by the manufacturer and have the right output power for your device.
6. Putting a wet phone in rice
You shouldn't put a wet phone in rice, as doing so may mean that small particles of rice can get into your phone and damage it. Instead, dry your phone with a towel and pay attention to all ports such as the headphone jack to remove as much water as possible. If your phone gets water in it, don't panic - place it in a dry place and gently tap the device so that the connection ports are facing downwards to get the moisture out. Avoid using a hair dryer; the excessive heat can harm sensitive electronic devices. Instead, gently wipe the unwiped phone with a clean towel, taking care to prevent water from getting into the charging port, SIM or MicroSD card slot, or headphone jack.
7. When you expose your smartphone to direct sunlight, it may cause damage to the battery. Excessive temperatures (over 35°C) can significantly affect battery life. To protect your phone from high and extreme temperatures, it is recommended that you place your phone in a cool or ventilated area. In addition, avoid placing your phone in direct sunlight or near hot objects, such as a hot stove.
8. Manually managing background applications is an effective way to extend the life of your smartphone. Although modern devices often have automatic optimization features to reduce power consumption, keeping background apps running can reduce power consumption. This allows for quicker recovery from the last activity while reducing the increased power consumption caused by switching to the background.
9. Ensure that you regularly clean debris and dust from your phone's ports to prevent it from accumulating over time and causing problems such as overheating. Turn off your phone and use appropriate tools when cleaning to avoid damaging it. Also, don't forget to clean the case of the phone as this can also affect the cooling performance of the device.
10. Avoiding bad charging habits is equally important. Frequently fully filling or draining the battery can shorten the life of the battery. The ideal charging strategy is to keep your phone between 30% and 80% charged to minimize the number of recharges and extend battery life.
Finally, avoid placing your phone in environments that are susceptible to bumps, humidity, or high temperatures to help protect internal components and extend the life of your device. By following these simple steps, you can maximize the life of your smartphone and enjoy a longer and convenient experience.
